Apparatus for destroying submarines.



A. McDOUGALL.

' APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING SUBMARINES.

APPLICATKON FILED APR.25.19H- 1,293,140.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

ALEXANDER MODOUGALL, 0F DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING SUBMARINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

Application filed April 25, 1917. Serial No. 164,432.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER MCDOU- GALL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Destroying Submarines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.7

This invention consists of an improved apparatus for use in navalwarfare and relates particularly to the art of combating and destroyingsubmarine vessels.

This application is in some respects an improvement upon my correlatedapplication upon similar improvements respecting the same art, executedby me on the 17th day of April, 1917, and now filed in the PatentOffice, Ser. No. 163333.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and effectiveapparatus for attacking submarine vessels.

Another object is to provide a novel and more efficient form ofattacking device for such use and whereby the destruction of thesubmarine when engaged, is assured.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the further description ofthe invention.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a convenient andpractical method of utilization of my improved torpedo and which mayassist in the better comprehension of the utility of the device, thoughthe method forms no part of my present invention.

Figure l is a side elevation of a sailing vessel illustrating thepreferred form of lure and mother-ship for submarine trawlers.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of same illustrating one arrangement of thestowing of the trawlers upon the mother-ship.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the trawlers which form of boat isnow becoming well known in naval warfare and heretofore used only asscout boats or submarine chasers.

Fig. 4c is a diagrammatic view illustrating the method of attacking asubmarine vessel.

Fig. 5 is a. front end elevation of the improved form of submarinetorpedo, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of same.

1 represents a vessel rigged as a sailing ship and which may actually besuch a ship or a steam or other vessel disguised to represent same, theobject of which is to form as attractive and noticeable a vessel aspossible, the same to be navigated in waters frequented by submarines orwhere the same may be suspected.

Upon the deck 2 of this vessel and in reasonable seclusion behind thebulwarks thereof, I propose to carry a plurality of small self-propelledboats 3, which I will herein term trawlers. These boats are preferablysimilar to such boats now known as submarine chasers or scout boats andfor the purpose here intended would preferably be propelled by internalcombustion engines, and each carry one or more small caliber guns as isthe custom.

In addition, these boats would each be equipped with a winding drum 4,outrigger 5, trawling line 6 and torpedo 7, substantially as describedin my former application above referred to.

I would suggest and have illustrated the use of about six of suchtrawlers approximately thirty to fortyfeet long and weighing complete,about two tons, carried upon a mother-ship of from two to three hundredfeet in length and of which many are at present available.

In addition to the trawlers, any number of life-boats may also becarried to provide against anticipated contingencies. A suitable numberof guns would also be carried in seclusion by the mother-ship to wardoff attack by the submarines and cause them to submerge as quickly aspossible upon unsuspected attack by the mother-ship, for the purposehereinafter set forth.

It is well known in the art that a small craft such as these trawlersmay be handled to and from such vessels by suitable tackle and equipmenttherefor, which are common to experienced navigators. When properlylocated, a vessel thus equipped would unquestionably draw theunsuspected attention and approach of a hostile submarine. When thesubmarine has approached within the proper zone for action, determinedby the defensive vessel, the guns upon the latter will be broughtquickly as possible into action, which from experience is known to causean attacking submarine to submerge immediately. Simultaneously with suchaction of the guns upon the vessel, active operations will be exercisedin launching all of th trawler-s with their navigators on board andthese quickly becomeengaged in scouring the 'zone in; and about whichthe submarine was last sighted,- they each trawl-- ing astern one of thetorpedoes 7 with which each trawler is equipped.

These small vessels are known to bevery;

fast and can readily attain a speed of miles or over perhour; thus aconsiderable territory can be quickly covered by a numdestroyed, thecrewwill have unusual fa 15.

' struction result countered.

ber of these vessels, and almost certain deto' any submarine thus en Ifthe mother-ship becomes damaged or cilities for rescue in havingavailable a large number of life-boats andjalso the aid ofthe'trawlers,otherwise the latter may again be taken on board andfurtheraction en- Insuch anencounter, a submarine would doubtlesslyquickly sink to as great depth as possible and'to care for such acondition, I have provided a specially designed torpedo 7, whichembodies my present invention, it being substantially cylindrical inform and elongated-but preferably having the forward end 8 inclineddownwardly from the upper side thereof and-terminating in a rather bluntortruncated nose 9.

The center of'gravity of the torpedo is maintainedby an air space 10,formed'in l the upper portion of the body of the torpedo and which isgraduated'in extent from nothing at theintersection of the inclined'pon'tion 8 with the top horizontal wall of the body portion, to its greatestdepth in the tail of the torpedo. This space or chamber is onlysufficient to keep the torpedo rightside' up and establish itsequilibrium and may be made in some'other form if preferred. However, itbeing greater near the ward the tail of the torpedo and the inclinedfiat fin 11. Such adequate provision be- (20151 05 :of am patent may beobtained for comes essential due to thehigh speed of the trawlersand-the great depth'of trawling required as before described.

I propose to connect the trawling lme 6 some distance back fromtheforward end assist in Y of thetorpedo asrat l2 to furth er itssuccessful diving.

In theforward end of the torpedo'I install 7 a plurality of strikingrods 13 to insure detonation 'by contact with the object engaged. q

-Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters-Patent, is: f

1; A trawling stantially cylindricalbody portion, a downwardly inclinedforward end, and buoyant means within the torpedo for maintaining samewhen submerged, with the incline of the forward end upon the uppermostside thereof. I r V 2. The combination with a trawling tor- ;pedo ofthe-character described, having. 'means for maintaining its equllibrlumof an inclined fin attached to the under side of the forward end thereofto causethe same to dive when being water. 7 v

3. Thecombination with a trawling torpedo of the character described,having means for establishing its center of gravity of aforwardly and"downwardly inclined fin fixed .to the underside ofthe forward endthereof to CitUSGdfi to. dive whenbeing drawn through the water. r

4. A trawling torpedo of-the character described, having itsfforwardbody portion so formed as-to cause it to. dive when being drawn throughthe water. V

5. In combination a trawling torpedo of the character described havingits forward end so formed as to cause it to dive when torpedo comprisinga sub-V drawn through the being drawn through the water and buoyantmeans within the torpedo. for assisting in the diving. action thereof,substantially as described. 7 V V Y '6. The combination with a trawlingtorpedo having its forward end so shaped as to cause'itto dive whendrawn through the water, of means: within the torpedo for keeping itright s'ide up and maintaining the tail on a levelabove the nosethereof;

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presenceof twowitnesses.

ALEXANDER MQDQUGALL. Witnesses: f j

s H. S.MAOGREGOR,

S. Gno. STEVENS.

five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. 0. g 1

